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A Song I Used To Know by Genalea Barker

Orphaned twice by the age of nineteen, Stevie Parker resigned herself to a life of solitude, unwilling to explore the unknown and risk further disappointment. Working a lackluster call center job for the last two years, Stevie has remained complacent, accepting promotions despite the added strife they bring, until a third offer initiates an awakening. Stevie steps off the empty road to nowhere, allowing herself a chance to do something more than merely survive. After enrolling in college and accepting a work-study position with the on-campus daycare, Stevie makes fast friends with an outspoken classmate, and begins shaking off the crushing weight brought on by years of isolation. Unfortunately, friendship and self-fulfillment don’t buy groceries or keep the lights on. When an opportunity arises in the form of a part-time babysitting gig, Stevie leaps at the chance, but quickly finds herself falling for rough-cut single dad, Mason Shepard. Reluctant to open her heart and jeopardize her job, Stevie attempts to bury her feelings, which only seems to make them stronger. She’s even starting to think Mason returns her affection, though something dark and ominous behind his eyes suggests there may be more to his story than Stevie bargained for. Too bad she’s already in so deep she can’t see the surface.

Lovehurts by Genalea Barker

★★★★★ “Even as our hearts are breaking we are falling in love.” J.D. Spero, author of Boy on Hold Being a chubby girl in a society that values skinny isn’t just painful. Sometimes, it’s downright dangerous. Eighteen-year-old Lena learns this all too well when a tactless remark from her boyfriend triggers her descent into anorexia and depression. Repeatedly congratulated for her weight loss, Lena’s disordered eating escalates. It isn’t until she hits rock bottom that Lena admits her reckless pursuit of “skinny” might actually be ruining her life. Determined to break free from the suffocating grip of her disorder and an abusive relationship, Lena embarks on a courageous journey of self-discovery and healing. But the road to recovery is rife with inner demons and past wreckage. To reclaim her identity, Lena must repair a fractured friendship, embrace the support of unexpected allies, and relearn how to trust herself.

Life After by genalea barker

Someone once asked August Haiz if twins realize one of them is an accident. Deep down, August knows if anyone was an accident, it wasn’t Benny—it was her. Granted, August doesn’t mind dancing in the background, letting Benny be the star musician and center of attention. In fact, she prefers it that way. Abandoned by their mother as children, the twins have spent a decade dodging the unpredictable nature of their alcoholic father in an attempt to stay off his radar. With graduation in sight and their freedom on the horizon, August and Benny look forward to fleeing their hometown together and starting fresh at college. But a tragic accident turns August’s world upside down, swallowing her hopes of a brighter future. Guilt-ridden and struggling to cope with her new normal, August shuts out the people who love her most, and nearly ruins her most important friendship. If August wants a chance at adjusting to life after tragedy, she’ll have to process her pain, let go of the past, and leave the darkness behind.